Screen and trap attachment



Jan. 13, 1942. E, D. FEA'III-VIERSTON ET AL I 2,270,116

SCREEN AND TRAP ATTACHMENT Filed March 14, 1940 i aiherafon R.7.Pe Zry 3% Patented Jan. 13, 1942 STTES SCREEN AND TRAP ATTACHMENT Edgar D. Featherston and Raymond E. Petry, Richmond, Ind.

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined screen and trap attachment for use in connection with containers from which petroleum products of the fluid type, such as gasoline, kerosene and the like are dispensed to the public or from bulk storage tanks to conveyances to retail outlets.

It is well known that such containers or tanks, whether for retail or wholesale use, accumulate moisture by condensation and otherwise, which settles in the bottom of the container or tank and should this moisture, in the course of dispensing gasoline, be delivered into the tank of an automotive vehicle it will cause the latter to become inefficient and sometimes results in very expensive repair bills. Also, with present day gasoline pumps, a very little moisture taken from such containers or tanks is necessary to cause the pump to be inoperative and results in very expensive repairs to dispensing equipment. Therefore, it is the aim of this invention to eliminate the suction of moisture from the bottom of such containers or tanks thereby eliminating the aforesaid expenses in the maintenance of both the dispensing equipment and vehicle.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an attachment of the class referred to for connection to the intake end of a gasoline dispensing line to elimihate the passage of moisture condensates from the bottom of a gasoline tank, into the gasoline during the delivery of the latter from the tank, and at the same time screening or filtering the gasoline before it enters the dispensing line.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an attachment for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily installed with respect to the intake end of a delivery line, thoroughly efficient in the use intended thereby, readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

igure 1 is an elevation of the combined screen and trap attachment showing the adaptation an inwardly directed curve.

thereof with respect to the intake end of a delivery or suction line, the latter is shown in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a section on-line 3-3 Figure 2.

The attachment generally indicated at 5 includes a head 8 in the form of an annulus provided on the upper terminal portion of its inner face I with an inwardly extending annular flange 8 formed with threads 9 for connecting the head 6 to the intake end of a delivery or suction line Hi. The latter is shown in dotted lines and is to be provided with peripheral threads for correlation with the threads 9 of the head 6.

Formed integral with the inner end edge of the head t and depending from the latter is an upper deflector I I of cylindrical cross section having its outer diameter less than the outer diameter of head 6. The deflector ll gradually increases in diameter from its lower to its upper end. The deflector II is substantially of flared contour and has its lower terminal portion I2 disposed upon At the point of joinder of the deflector i i with the head 6 a shoulder 13 is formed. Integral with the portion I2 of deflector i I, as well as depending from the latter is a combined deflector and intake forming member 44 having an imperforate upper portion i 5 of uniform diameter and a series of spaced supporting legs I8 depending from the bottom edge of said portion I5 and formed at their lower ends with inwardly extending right angular flanges IT. The portion It constitutes a deflector and the spaces between the legs 15 provide passages I8 for the travel of the fluid to be dispensed into the said portion I5.

The attachment 6 includes a suction cup Ii! which constitutes a trap to prevent any moisture being carried into the attachment during the delivery of the fluid therein. The cup I9 has its body imperforate and it is to be positioned in the Water at the bottom of the tank. The fluid to be dispensed will have to enter the attachment above the cup. The cup 59 is of greater diameter than and is disposed coaxially with the head 6. The cup I3 is of greater height than the head. The cup is is of less height than and disposed coaxially with the deflector It and member I4.-

Encompassing and secured to the upper terminal portion of the outer periphery of the cup is is the lower terminal portion 29 of an upstanding frustoconical screen 2 I. The said portion 29 is suitably secured to the cup I9. The upper end or" screen 2! abuts and is secured to the shoulder [3. The screen 2| encompasses in spaced relation the deflector H. In vertical section the screen 2| and deflector H are oppositely inclined. The inclination of the screen is downwardly and outwardly. The inclination of deflector II is downwardly and inwardly,

The flanges I! of the legs I 6 seat upon and are secured to the upper face of the bottom of the cup l9.

The fluid to be delivered enters the attachment through the screen 2| and is deflected downwardly by the deflector II and the portion of member 14 into the cup [9, then passes around the bottom edge of the said portion [5 into the latter and upwardly through the deflector H and head 6 into the line l0.

It is seldom that there is found to be more than one-half to three-quarters of an inch of water in the bottom of a gasoline tank from which gasoline is being dispensed to the motoring public, but with the suction or delivery line opening on the bottom of the tank through a screen or otherwise, this moisture would be drawn into the line even though the latter would be installed in such a manner that it would be as much as two inches above the moisture. Whereas with respect to the attachment, in accordance with this invention, it could be installed within one-half inch of the bottom of the tank and due to the fact that it will not draw the gasoline below the top of the suction cup, there could be as much as one and one-half to one and three-fourths inches of water in the tank which would not be drawn into the suction line. The suction cup will be of the desired height preferably one and one-half inches.

be governed only by the amount of suction created by the pumping unit.

In accordance with this invention, the suction is downward into the cup and it will not draw the fluid into the cup from below a line at the top of the latter and under such conditions cannot draw moisture from the bottom of the tank into the cup. The water being heavier than the gasoline remains at the bottom and will not be drawn over the sides of the cup into the latter.

Therefore, with the cup one and one-half inches high, installed within one-half inch from the bottom of the tank, the water could be one and one-half inch to one and three-fourths of an inch deep in the tank and none could be drawn over the sides of the cup.

Any scale or other contamination from the tank or otherwise which would ordinarily accumulate on the screen and have a tendency to clog the same is deflected due to the screen being set on an angle. The angle allows the scale or other contamination to slide down the screen and the suction cup and thereby remain on the bottom of the tank instead of being drawn into the line.

What we claim is:

1. A combined screen and trap attachment for delivery lines comprising an annular head for connection to the line, a suction cup disposed below, coaxially arranged with and of greater diameter than said head, an upstanding frustoconical screen having its lower terminal portion encompassing and secured to the upper terminal portion of the cup, said screen having its upper end secured to the lower end of said head, a deflector depending from the lower end of the head and encompassed in spaced relation by said screen, a combined deflector and intake forming member depending from the lower end of said deflector and supported and encompassed in spaced relation by said suction cup, the said deflector gradually increasing in diameter from its lower to its upper end, and said member being of uniform diameter and of less diameter and height than the said deflector.

2. A combined screen and trap attachment for delivery lines comprising an annular head for connection to the line, a suction cup disposed below, coaxially arranged with and of greater diameter than said head, an upstanding frustoconical screen having its lower terminal portion encompassing and secured to the upper terminal portion of the cup, said screen having its upper end secured to the lower end of said head, a deflector depending from the lower end of the head and encompassed in spaced relation by said screen, and a combined deflector and intake forming member depending from the lower end of said deflector and supported and encompassed in spaced relation by said suction cup, said deflector and member being coaxially arranged with said head and cup and said deflector being inversely tapered with respect to said screen.

3. A combined screen and trap attachment for delivery lines comprising a head for connection to the intake end of the delivery line, a suction cup disposed below said head, an upstanding sleeve-like screen connected at its lower end to said cup and at its upper end connected to said head, a deflector of cylindrical cross section depending from the head and encompassed in spaced relation by said screen, and an annular combined deflector and intake forming member depending from said deflector and supported by the bottom of and encompassed in spaced relation by said cup, said screen and deflector being inversely tapered with respect to each other.

4. A combined screen and trap attachment for delivery lines of a petroleum product comprising an annular head for connection to and for depending from the intake end of a line. a suction cup disposed completely below and coaxially arranged with said head, an upstanding screen of annular cross section secured at its upper end to the lower end of said head and at its lower end with the upper end of the cup and constituting a screened intake for the cup, an imperforate upstanding deflector of annular cross section encompassed by the screen in spaced relation and connected at its upper end to the lower end of the head, and an upstanding combined deflector, said deflector gradually increasing in diameter from the lower end to said head, and intake forming member for the deflector, said member being of annular cross section and having its upper end connected to and opening into the lower end of the deflector, said member depend ing in, supported from the bottom of and encompassed in spaced relation by said cup.

5. A combined screen and trap attachment for delivery lines of a petroleum product comprising a head for connection to the intake end of a line, a suction cup disposed below said head, an upstanding tubular screen secured at its upper end to the lower end of said head and at its lower end to the upper end of the cup and constituting a screened intake, an imperforate upstanding deflector encompassed by the screen in spaced relation and connected at its upper end to the lower end of the head, said screen and deflector being inversely tapered with respect to each other, and an upstanding tubular combined deflector and intake forming member for the said deflector, said member having its upper end connected to and opening into the lower end of the deflector, said member depending in, supported from the bottom of and encompassed in spaced relation by said cup.

6. A combined screen and trap attachment for the delivery line of a liquid petroleum product comprising the combination of a tubular head adapted to be secured to the intake end of said line, an imperiorate tubular upstanding deflector secured to the inner portion of the lower edge of said head and opening into the latter, said deflector gradually increasing in diameter from its lower end to said head, an upstanding suction cup arranged below the lower end of said deflector, an upstanding screen of annular cross section encompassing said deflector in spaced relation, secured at its upper end to the outer portion of the lower edge of said head and having its lower end secured to and providing a screened intake for said cup, and a tubular upstanding combined deflector and intake member for said deflector having its upper end connected to and opening into the lower end of said deflector, said member depending in, supported at its lower end from the bottom of and encompassed in spaced relation by said cup.

7. A combined screen and trap attachment for the delivery line of a liquid petroleum product comprising the combination of a tubular head adapted to be secured to the intake end of said line, an imperforate tubular upstanding deflector secured to the inner portion of the lower edge of said head and opening into the latter, an upstanding suction cup arranged below the lower end of said deflector, an upstanding screen of annular cross section encompassing said deflector in spaced relation, secured at its upper end to the outer portion of the lower edge of said head and having its lower end secured to and providing a screened intake for said cup, said screen and deflector being inversely tapered with respect to each other, a tubular upstanding combined deflector and intake member for said deflector having its upper end connected to and opening into the lower end of said deflector, said member depending in, supported at its lower end from the bottom of and encompassed in spaced relation by said cup, the upper end of said deflector being inset with respect to the outer face of said head, and the said member being inset with respect to the lower end of the said deflector. 1

8. A combined screen and trap element for a delivery line comprising an annular head for connection to the intake end of the line, a suction cup disposed below said head, an upstanding irusto-conical screen having its lower terminal portion secured to the upper terminal portion of the cup, said screen having its upper end secured to the lower end of said head, an inverted frusto-conical deflector depending from the lower end of the head and encompassed in spaced relation by said screen, and a tubular combined deflector and intake forming member depending from the lower end of the deflector and supported and encompassed in spaced relation by said cup.

9. A combined screen and trap element for a delivery line comprising an annular head having an inwardly extending threaded flange on the upper portion of its inner face for connection to the intake end of said line, a suction cup disposed below said head, an upstanding frustoconical screen extending from the lower edge of said head and having its lower terminal portion secured to the upper terminal portion of said cup, and an inverted impervious frusto-conical deflector extending from the lower end of said head and completely encompassed by said screen, and a tubular combined deflector and intake forming member extending from the lower end of the deflector to the upper face of the bottom of and encompassed in spaced relation by said cup.

10. A combined screen and trap element for a delivery line comprising an annular head having an inwardly extending threaded flange on the upper portion of its inner face for connection to the intake end of said line, a suction cup disposed below said head, an upstanding frusto-conical screen extending from the lower edge of said head and having its lower terminal portion secured to the upper terminal portion of said cup, an inverted impervious irusto-conicaldeflector extending from the lower end of said head and completely encompassed by said screen, and a tubular combined deflector and intake forming member extending from the lower end of the deflector to the upper face of the bottom of and encompassed in spaced relation by said cup, said member including an imperforate annular upper portion and a series of spaced legs depending from said upper portion, said legs being formed with inwardly extending flanges secured to the bottom of said cup.

EDGAR D. FEATHERSTON. RAYMOND E. PETRY. 

